Ohio teens admit guilt in teen's hair afire on bus

HAMILTON, Ohio 
Three teenage boys pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges after a high school classmates hair was set on fire on a school bus in southwest Ohio.

The boys, ages 17, 16 and 15, entered their pleas in Butler County Juvenile Court, The Cincinnati Enquirer and Hamilton JournalNews reported.

The 15-year-old and the 17-year-old pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated assault and were ordered to remain in juvenile detention until sentencing scheduled for May 27. The third teen pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and will be electronically monitored at home until the May 27 sentencing.

Devin Lewis, 16, said he was on a Middletown school bus Feb. 4 when someone pulled off his hood. He said he jerked his head back when a student held a lighter in front of his face and another student then set his hair on fire.

Lewis had sections of his hair burned off, but did not require medical attention.

Lewis was in court Tuesday and said later that he isn't sure why the teens targeted him, but that he hopes they get help, the Enquirer reported. His family said Lewis hasn't become embittered from years of bullying.

"I could have turned out to be a really mean person, but I didn't," Lewis told the Enquirer.

Stephanie McKeehan, Lewis' mother, said her son has received an outpouring of support, the JournalNews reported.

"They've sent him cards and letters of encouragement, so the support of the students has been very good," said McKeehan, of Middletown.